The GM story
Our history
It all started back in the eighties when David Vooght had the opportunity to follow a lifetime ambition to run his own business. Following an engineering apprenticeship at Westland Helicopters followed by 10 years in agricultural engineering sales, David went into business with his father-in-law starting up G&M Coachwork building minibus conversions. David soon took over the business and set about expansion.
1988
One of GM’s earliest achievements, and a first for the industry, was a coach-built Ford transit featuring the lowest floor of any coachbuilt Transit on the market. It transpired this marked the first of many firsts for GM Coachwork.
1992
For the first 5 years the business focused on providing wheelchair accessible minibuses to community transport groups up and down the country.
1993
GM now turned its attention to wheelchair vehicles. The first wheelchair access vehicle produced was based on a Fiat Fiorino, essentially a Fiat Uni van. This was followed by a conversion on a Nissan Serena.
1994-2000
During this period the order of the day was coachbuilt Transits, PSV minibuses and the continual development of wheelchair access vehicles. During this time GM expanded into selling used wheelchair vehicles and providing vehicle adaptations.
2001
GM expanded into the taxi market coming up with another first – Fiat Scudo with a sliding seat which offered the choice of luggage or wheelchair space for the taxi operator.
2002
Outgrowing the existing sites GM moved to a new purpose-built facility at Trusham, ten minutes outside Exeter providing increased production capacity.
2004
Another first for the market. GM developed the first low floor Fiat Doblo wheelchair accessible vehicle with Type Approval. This year saw further expansion with an additional production facility at heathfield, Newton Abbot to build the new Fiat Doblo which was now a popular vehicle with customers on the Motability scheme.
2005-2007
During this period the order of the day was coachbuilt Transits, PSV minibuses and the continual development of wheelchair access vehicles. During this time GM expanded into selling used wheelchair vehicles and providing vehicle adaptions.
2008
Yet another first. GM designed the first low floor conversion on a VW T5 Caravelle. This formed the foundation for a range of new drive-from-wheelchair vehicles, starting with the Colorado model. This was also a landmark year as David’s colleague from Westland, Nigel Collins who had since been working at Airbus in Toulouse, joined GM to help run the expanding business. It was in this year that GM celebrated 20 years of minibus production.
2009
Another year and another first. GM were the first vehicle convertor to develop the Citroen Berlingo into a wheelchair accessible vehicle providing GM with another sales success on the Motability scheme. This was also a good year for awards. GM were awarded Motability WAV Converter of the Year and were Commended the following year. The main production facility was further extended to meet every increasing customer demand.
2010
David is appointed Chairman of WAVCA – the industry body representing all wheelchair vehicle convertors. WAVCA is active in driving legislative change from the UE for UK wheelchair vehicles and testing ensuring convertors are designing and building to the same exacting standards.
2011
This year marked the launch of another market first – the Minibus Lite, a ground-breaking 17-seater minibus with European Whole Vehicle Type Approval that could be driven on a car licence. In this year GM also launched the Duo drive-from wheelchair vehicle at NAIDEX London. Based on the Citroen Berlingo the Duo extends GM’s drive-from wheelchair vehicle range to give GM the mantel of offering the biggest range of drive-from wheelchair vehicles the market.
2012
2013
This year marked GMs 25th anniversary and twenty-five years on the business has grown to become firmly established as a nationwide leading vehicle convertor.
2014
True to GM’s pioneering values the business designed the first campervan that could be used by wheelchair drivers. the VW Panorama featured a lowered floor and full camper conversion.
GM appeared in KPMG’s Fast Growth Index.
2017
GM re-entered the taxi market with the launch of the FlexiCab brand and a range of 3 wheelchair accessible taxis. The range was later extended with the addition of the Ford Custom Coachman taxi featuring full Hackney conversion.
2018
GM launched the Ventura campervan brand and its first product the Ventura VR200, abased on a Peugoet Boxer L1 H1 and won Best Budget Motorhome at Practical Motorhome’s Motorhome of the Year Awards. This year GM also was awarded Specialist Convertor of the Year award by Lex Autolease. GM made its second appearance in KPMG’s Fast Growth Index.
2019
With further additions to the product range of wheelchair accessible vehicle GM now offers the widest range of WAV’s and drive-from wheelchair vehicles in the UK. Also, this year GM developed the industry’s first electric minibus based on the LDV EV80.
GM were shortlisted for the Western Morning News Family Business of The Year award and finalist in the Made in the South West Awards for Manufacturer of the Year.
2020
The Ventura VR200 campervan won Caravan and Motorhome Cluib’s Best Campervan under £47,000 award.